A young child sitting at a wooden desk with a backpack and a stack of books, looking happy.

alumno

ah-LOOM-noh

student?general educational context,pupil?specifically for younger children in school

Also:apprentice?someone learning a specific craft or trade,disciple?someone following the teachings of a specific master

📝 In Action

El nuevo alumno es muy inteligente.

The new student is very intelligent.

Ese profesor tiene muchos alumnos en su clase.

That teacher has many students in his class.

Soy un antiguo alumno de esta escuela.

I am a former student of this school.

Word Connections

Synonyms

estudiante (student)
discípulo (disciple/follower)

Antonyms

profesor (teacher)
maestro (master/teacher)

Common Collocations

alumno aplicado – diligent/hard-working student
antiguo alumno – alumnus/former student
pasar lista a los alumnos – to take attendance of the students

💡 Grammar Points

Changing for Gender

This word ends in 'o' because it refers to a male student. If you are talking about a female student, you change it to 'alumna'.

Talking about Groups

In Spanish, the plural 'alumnos' is used for a group of only boys OR a mixed group of boys and girls.

❌ Common Pitfalls

Student vs. Alumno

Mistake: "Using 'alumno' only for people who study hard."

Correction: Use 'alumno' to describe the relationship with a teacher. Even if someone doesn't study much, they are still an 'alumno' if they are enrolled in the class.

⭐ Usage Tips

School vs. University

While 'estudiante' is used more often for college students, 'alumno' is perfectly fine for all ages, from toddlers to adults in a night class.

✏️ Quick Practice

💡 Quick Quiz: alumno

Question 1 of 2

Which word would you use to describe a male student in a classroom?

📚 More Resources

Word Family

alumna(female student) - noun

alumnado(student body) - noun

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between 'alumno' and 'estudiante'?

They are very similar! 'Estudiante' focuses on the person who is studying (the act of learning), while 'alumno' focuses on the person who is registered in a school or has a teacher (the relationship with the institution).

Can I use 'alumno' for a PhD student?

Yes, you can use it for any level of education, though 'estudiante' or 'investigador' might be more common for high-level university researchers.